Theater and Dance Professor, Director and Choreographer (Irvine Valley College), Theater Arts Instructor (Red Hill Lutheran School), Freelance Director and Choreographer
Years with arts-X-press: 9

Deana is a seasoned director, choreographer, and educator with an extensive background in musical theatre and performing arts education. She is a regular director and choreographer “on the boards” at Irvine Valley College (IVC), where she has helmed numerous acclaimed productions. With over 25 years of experience in both performance and education, Deana is deeply committed to storytelling through song and dance. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Performance from California State University, Fullerton, where she toured regionally with The Kaleidoscope Players and The Preeminents’ "100 Years of Broadway" tours. Her professional performance career includes work in musicals, industrials, revues, dinner theatre, and theme parks throughout Southern California.

In addition to her work at IVC, Deana serves as the Performing Arts Director and ASB Advisor at Red Hill Lutheran School in Tustin, California, and is a Senior Acting and Dance Instructor for Pacific Symphony’s arts-X-press program. She is also the resident Director/Choreographer for Trinity United Presbyterian Church. Her additional directing and choreography credits include work with the California Association of Dance/Drill Team (Master Teacher and Competition Judge), California State University Fullerton, multiple Orange County high schools, Golden State Ballet, FOCUS Dance Center, and DNA The Dance Lab, which she founded and directed. In 2025, she was recognized by OC Parenting Magazine as a “Top Teacher” finalist—distinguished as the only arts educator in the top 10.